Will Harbaugh sign an extension?
I know some of us have been doubting the insiders recently based on inaccurate or vague info presented by them, but did anyone notice during Sam Webb's rant after the game Saturday he seemed pretty sure that harbaugh was going to sign an extension. It's at the 9:02 mark in the linked video.
I feel like there is a lot of confidence in that statement and it has me excited.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:02 PM ^
I’d love to believe Sam but my gut says he’s out. Just my opinion, not backed by anything.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
Very hawt take!!
November 26th, 2023 at 9:26 PM ^
My gut says I ate too much turkey ... but I don't like to brag
November 26th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Your gut is still doing better than Ryan Day's gut
November 26th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Before the season I was definitely in the same camp. But since this latest thing...... I have no idea. Really get the feeling Santa Ono is on Team Harbaugh in a big way and it means something to Jim.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:48 PM ^
He isnt thin skinned. And now he's been vindicated. He's staying. Was never leaving. Unless there is some big ban coming up that I'm not aware of
November 26th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
He’ll be the HC of the bears after he wins the national title and draft JJ in the first round
November 26th, 2023 at 9:12 PM ^
The Bears job is the worst job in football. Harbaugh is too smart to take it and the Bears are likely not firing their coach anyway.
If Harbaugh really wants the Bears job, he can take it in 3 years when it is open again.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:14 PM ^
If he signals he wants it, he’ll get it. They drafted him. They know each other. The bears coach sucks they know it
November 26th, 2023 at 9:22 PM ^
The people who drafted him died decades ago.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:17 PM ^
The Bears are definitely moving on from Eberflus at season's end.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
As a Bears fan who follows them closely, I’m almost certain they will be firing their coach. But also as someone who has followed the Bears my entire life, I think Harbaugh is the last coach the ownership would approve of hiring. A wild card who would want a lot of control does not fit the way the Bears have run the franchise (and probably a reason why they are one of the worst franchises in football)
November 26th, 2023 at 9:22 PM ^
Bears aren’t moving on from Fields. JJ isn’t leaving.
Harbaugh? Who the hell kniws?
November 26th, 2023 at 9:52 PM ^
Is it a real thing JJ is staying ?
November 26th, 2023 at 10:03 PM ^
If he gets a 1st round promise I would think he is gone but he did say he was staying 4 years when he was a freshman and people were saying he might transfer. The degree mattered to him then, easy to say that when the NFL is not offering you qb1 money
November 27th, 2023 at 8:51 AM ^
JJ was honored at Senior Day and the broadcast team talked about his last game in the Big House.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:58 PM ^
He would be better off to take the Washington job. 90 mill in cap space, high draft pick, 2 second round picks and 2 3rd round picks this year.
November 27th, 2023 at 5:51 AM ^
Bears owners are notoriously cheap. I doubt it
November 26th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
Obviously that’s what we all want. Sam’s great, but unless Jim himself has spilled the beans, which I doubt, he is probably the only one that currently knows what he’s gonna do. If you’re reading the blog tonight, please sign that extension coach.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:04 PM ^
No, he’s not signing an extension. The threat of ncaa sanctions and suspension for next season is more than enough to push him out.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
Hmmm.... You know something that others don't? Without any evidence against him? Season long suspension? Even a threat?
November 27th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
Super strong opinion.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:06 PM ^
Jim's contract runs through 2026. It's not like an extension is an absolute necessity, but it probably helps recruiting to have a 5-year term looking forward at all times.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:13 PM ^
Exactly. The guy is under contract. An extension is not necessary at this point.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Brilliant
November 26th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
I think it’s necessary for recruiting. As long as his buyout remains low enough that the possibility of bolting for the NFL is realistic, it will be used against him. An extension with a large buyout will send a clear message that Harbaugh is committed to Michigan (even if he could still bolt if he really wanted to)
November 26th, 2023 at 9:49 PM ^
There isn't a buyout that someone who wants him can't come up with. To much money in the NFL to let some buyout stop you if you want it.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:39 PM ^
Texas A&M ready to pay 70 million to their former coach. Look at MSU. A buyout is going to stop a NFL franchise? No.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:07 PM ^
somebody call mgrowold's banker. could be he's owes me $2. it'd be like winning the lottery.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:33 PM ^
Don’t you go spending my dollar just yet hotshot.
BTW, watched the game Saturday with about 150 Buckeye fans at my OSU buddies watch party. Not only was the game amazing, I won the 50-50 raffle for $500 at half!
I don’t think I’m going to be welcomed back in 2025.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:50 PM ^
you better keep that $500 in a safe place. you could end up owing me. but quick question: do buckeyes use actual money or is it more like monopoly money?
November 26th, 2023 at 9:59 PM ^
They use toilet paper for money since they don't know what it's actually used for.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:32 PM ^
I live in Ohio and can confirm this, but we only use Charmin Extra Soft as currency.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
Punking those punks. Nice.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:09 PM ^
Who knows. Honestly, if he leaves after this year it wouldn’t surprise me and I wouldn’t blame him. The NCAA and Big Ten are messes of institutions in regards to how they police their schools and administer punishments. It would be cool to see him go to the Bears and get to coach JJ.
I think between Jedd, Moore and Minter we have a lot of great options for a successor.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:24 PM ^
Bears aren’t giving up on Fields for JJ. Why do people think this?
November 26th, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^
Ehh it’s a fun thing to say and dream about Harbaugh and JJ continuing the connection in the NFL. Realistically, JJ is probably the 4th or 5th guy off the board unless he balls out in the CFP. I do think the Bears should move on from Fields though. He’s bottom half of League QBs, and while that’s still really good if you’re not top 10 you’re not starting for long.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:01 PM ^
Far more likely that if Harbaugh and JJ were to team up in the NFL it would be in Vegas.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:16 PM ^
My gut (substantial, but less so than last year) tells me he's going to test the NFL waters once again. He didn't sign an extension before the sign stuff broke, and that tells me he wants to shop the NFL again. Yes, I know what he said. Throw in the possible NCAA hammering and it gets even more likely.
That doesn't necessarily mean he's leaving, but if he gets the right kind of NFL offer, he will leave. Whether that is forthcoming or not, who knows.....
That said, if he does come back, I have no doubt he will make next season the best it can be. I have complete confidence in Jim's player development scheme, from player recruiting to hiring the right coaches to develop players, to strength and conditioning with Herbert. We seriously have the best player development in the country.
If he does leave, I hope we send him out with a National Championship.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:01 PM ^
He could still sign an extension and jump to the NFL, as long as the extension doesn’t include a huge buyout. It would actually be the wisest approach he could take, financially speaking.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:18 PM ^
I believe he knows he is done after this season.
But dammit. I don't want it to happen.
He should have been offered a lifetime extension last year. It's absolutely insane we are still talking about it after everything he has done for the program - especially the last 3 years!...
November 26th, 2023 at 9:56 PM ^
If he is, then we need to put Jeff Brohm on the list. What he has done is impressive.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:20 PM ^
Ryan Day is a signing a deal with Extenze.
November 26th, 2023 at 10:09 PM ^
This is Ryan.
Ryan is not happy.
He has a soft peepee. As soft as his team...
November 26th, 2023 at 9:24 PM ^
I guarantee…….
Harbaugh will take a shit tomorrow.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:26 PM ^
Meh all the insiders guaranteed it'd happen prior to the Ohio State game, and it didn't
November 26th, 2023 at 9:26 PM ^
If he leaves it would be for the Chargers not the Bears. He wants a ready made team. That isn’t the Bears.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:32 PM ^
Mrs. Harbaugh likely approves. Staley is likely out.
November 26th, 2023 at 9:34 PM ^
Wouldn't put it past a guy to take that on if Chicago holds some special place in is heart from the playing days. Especially successful HC with a big ego - lots of candidates would look at those 2 firsts and think they have the secret sauce to turn it around.
That being said, I think Herbert would really flourish under JH (not that he's problem #1 in LA...)
November 26th, 2023 at 9:35 PM ^
Yep, Justin Herbert is established. It makes tons more sense to go for that job.